Andrei Lankov is a Director at NK News and writes exclusively for the site as one of the world's leading authorities on North Korea. A graduate of Leningrad State University, he attended Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung University from 1984-5 - an experience you can read about here. In addition to his writing, he is also a Professor at Kookmin University.
While enterprises are owned by the state, private entrepreneurs usually run the show
Kim Jong Un sees himself - correctly, in some cases - as being surrounded by threats
Armed confrontation on the Korean Peninsula is more likely than it's been in decades
A study of popular uprisings offers some insights into how Kim Jong Un could fall
Bad economy, good social indicators: North Korea's status is an enigma
The DPRK economy is growing, but until its institutions are reformed, this won't last
The new administration has few good options when it comes to Pyongyang
In the 90s, desperate for food, many North Koreans turned to pottery smuggling
Viewed in context, Pyongyang's elites live relatively humble existences
The nature of North Korean studies means researchers are often unsure what is true or false
Specialist news and analysis,
research tools, and unique data sets
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